Ovechkin, unofficially, had a one-missing-tooth lead over Crosby on the NHL's all-time list.

Pittsburgh's captain (and the NHL's leading scorer) also underwent oral surgery. For the rest of Crosby's career, above-the-neck injuries are going to trigger concerns about concussions, and Bylsma acknowledged that.

"Every time that happens to a player, you're worried about that, it doesn't matter who it is," Bylsma told reporters.

Crosby was hit by a rising shot from teammate Brooks Orpik on his first shift of the game. He immediately went down and bled on the ice before heading to the locker room.

The injury also meant that Crosby didn't get a chance to skate with Jarome Iginla in Iginla's first game as a Penguin. The star winger, acquired from the Calgary Flames earlier this week, played with Evgeni Malkin and James Neal and had two shots and three hits in 17:30 of ice time.